by Navy Yard
March 28, 2024
Categories: Life Sciences, Tenants, Workforce Development,
Participants of the newest Navy Yard Skills Initiative Biomedical Technician Training Program cohort with VintaBio, Inc. visited the Navy Yard for an orientation March 27.
The purpose of the visit allowed program participants to get a better understanding of their training program with VintaBio and familiarize themselves with the Navy Yard campus.
The visit included stops at the VintaBio facility and stops at PIDC and Ensemble/Mosaic offices.
This is the Navy Yard Skills Initiative’s third Biomedical Technician Training Program cohort – the first with VintaBio. Previously, the Navy Yard Skills Initiative completed two cohorts with Iovance Biotherapeutics, cohorts completing in March 2023 and March 2024.
This program, which is open to those with a high school diploma or GED in a career field where a college degree is usually required, prepares participants for rewarding roles in the rapidly growing life sciences industry.
The Biomedical Technician Training Program is a collaborative effort between PIDC, West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, The Wistar Institute, and the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia.
The Navy Yard Skills Initiative life science cohorts are partially funded through Congresswoman Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), in which PIDC received a $525,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for its Navy Yard Skills Initiative and a $100,000 commitment from Ensemble/Mosaic’s Navy Yard Building Better Foundation. This $375,000 project is 17% ($65,000) funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, in support of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 with an additional 83% ($310,000) provided by the U.S. Economic Development Administration.
Program Information
The 22-week paid training program begins at The Wistar Institute with 10 weeks of evening classes focused on foundation curriculum in cellular and molecular biology followed by a full-time hands-on laboratory orientation before transitioning to a 10-week externship at VintaBio’s 22,500-square-foot purpose-built facility designed to streamline cell and gene therapy development and manufacturing.
The West Philadelphia Skills Initiative will support program participants by offering professional development courses, networking opportunities, and coaching.
Select candidates who complete the program will have the opportunity to interview for a full-time position at VintaBio, with a starting pay of $25/hour.
This cohort started in February and will conclude in July 2024.
Navy Yard Skills Initiative
PIDC’s Navy Yard Workforce Skills Initiative creates training programs that connect talented Philadelphia residents to permanent employment with Navy Yard employers. PIDC recognizes the importance of connecting talented workers to Navy Yard employers and has partnered with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative to increase stability and economic opportunity for working Philadelphians. PIDC and WPSI partner to run year-round, cohort-based, jobs-driven training models that harness the hiring power of Navy Yard employers, while cultivating talent from Philadelphia. www.navyyard.org/skills
